1977 Mk. IV Cortina cuts out in idle

Potential-Monke

Hey all. Just wondering if anyone has the same Car, father has a 77 Cortina 2.0L Ghia version. Low mileage but since yesterday it seems to cut out while in idle. This only seems to happen when the engine is hot. Doesn't happen at lights or anything but lately need to keep it slightly revved to stop this.

If you turn it off and try to start again, it won't start. Will only start once it cools down a bit. Was happening previously when you would slow down and the timing and air was adjusted. Happening now again since yesterday.

Any ideas? He thinks it might be the coil. Neither of us are mechanics!

biko

This is probably more suited to Classic Cars where they have these old cars.
Let me know if you want thread moved there.

fancy pigeon

Possibly due to the hot weather... Try cooling the carb body when it happens next and see if this cures it

Tea drinker

What do the plugs look like on it?
Cutting out on idle could be idling too low to start with or carb air bleed or idle mix needs adjustment again.
Could be just gunged up. Run a fuel cleaner through it but that car probably won't get enough driving for it to be sorted.

Assuming plugs are in good nick, points good and set right, ignition timing ok, plug leads not arcing etc.

Hmm just thinking if that carb has a vaccum opened second venturi the vacuum pipe for the pluger or plunger itself could have an air leak

Potential-Monke

Thank you all! I've passed on the comments and he's going to bring it to the same lad that checked it the last time!

dooroy

Just a few thoughts :
(a) is this an automatic -I think many of them were ?
(b) do you know what make of carb is fitted ?
'Back in the day ' some cars used to suffer from fuel vaporisation.
This was often caused when a fuel pipe ran near a hot exhaust etc and when the car was hot the fuel in the pipe vaporised - so starting became difficult or sometimes impossible until the pipe cooled down and the fuel became liquid again.
I had one of those many years ago and they were a great car for their time. I ran mine on LPG for 2 years and the guy who who certified the job said it didn't need an oiler as the 2L engines were made in Germany and were far superior to the 1.6 at then time.
I drove it for 3 yrs and a friend of mine had it for another 3 or so - and the engine never gave any trouble. And as we say 'we didn't spare it' - I changed mine to manual and it was very quick.

Potential-Monke

What you're saying does seem to make sense. It's a manual 2L Ghia, he bought it with like 12k on the clock. Previous owner only used it to drive to mass and back since new! Immaculate. We're not mechanical enough to answer the queries, but I'll mention that to him also!

dooroy

I also think that many carbs had an idle jet and if that was blocked (very easily blocked as it is very fine) then the engine will not idle - you have to keep it revved up a bit so that the main jet supplies fuel.
I remember finding idle jets blocked by a tiny speck of dirt -once removed idle was back to normal.